Consecrate

To make or declare something sacred; to dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose, often through a ceremony.

verb

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Imagine This

Imagine a solemn ceremony where a priest raises a gleaming chalice and proclaims it sacred, then places it on an altar with the community declaring it for holy use alone.

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Sounds Like

KON-suh-kreyt

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Looks Like

Visually resembles related terms like consecration and sacred; shares the root idea of sacredness.

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Remember This

Etymology traces to Latin consecrare ('to make sacred'), from sacer ('sacred'). The word is closely related to sanctify and hallow; its opposite is desecrate.

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Other Forms

consecrationnoun

consecratedpast participle / adjective

consecratingpresent participle

consecrateverb (base form)

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Connect With

hallow, sanctify, bless, dedicate, devote; antonym: desecrate

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Note

Used primarily in religious contexts but can be metaphorical (to consecrate a day, a mission, or memory). Distinguish from 'desecrate' (to profane) and avoid misuse as simply 'bless' in secular contexts.

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Study Deeper

Examples

The chapel was consecrated by the bishop in a solemn rite.
They vowed to consecrate their lives to helping others.

Synonyms

sanctifyhallowblessdedicatedevote

Antonyms

desecrateprofane

Etymology

From Latin consecrare 'to make sacred', from sacer 'sacred'; con- (together/with) + sacred root; English adoption through ecclesiastical usage.

Mnemonic

Mnemonic: With the sacred, create. Remember that consecrate means to set apart or dedicate something for sacred use; picture people coming together to seal and dedicate a sacred object.

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Intricate

adjective

Very complicated or detailed; having many interrelated parts.

Demonstrative

adjective

serving to indicate or point out something; in grammar, relating to how words like this, that, these, and those modify or replace nouns; also used to describe a person who openly expresses emotions

Compromise

verb

To settle differences by making concessions during negotiation; or to expose to risk or harm by allowing protections, standards, or integrity to be weakened.